Education and Creation Order

7/26/2019 Education and Creation Order

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And God said . . . : Education and

the Importance of Creation Order

Michael GoheenMichael Goheen

Trinity Western UniersityTrinity Western Uniersity!an"ley# $.C.# Canada!an"ley# $.C.# Canada


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%tartin" &ith the Gospel

'estoratie: Good ne&s( God is'estoratie: Good ne&s( God is restoringrestoring

creationcreation

Comprehensie: Good ne&s( God isComprehensie: Good ne&s( God is

restorin"restorin" allallof human life in the conte)t ofof human life in the conte)t of

allallof the creationof the creation

%tory: Clima) of lon" story of restoration%tory: Clima) of lon" story of restoration

Mission: Gien to church to ma*e *no&nMission: Gien to church to ma*e *no&n


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Introductory remar*s:

!ies not shaped +y a doctrine of creation!ies not shaped +y a doctrine of creationas much as it should +eas much as it should +e

Understandin" of creation essential forUnderstandin" of creation essential foreducationeducation

Genesis , sho&s us God-s ori"inal intentionGenesis , sho&s us God-s ori"inal intention

for &orldfor &orld Genesis , must +e understood in ori"inalGenesis , must +e understood in ori"inal

conte)tconte)t


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istorical and Cultural Conte)t

Moses &ritin" /ust after e)odusMoses &ritin" /ust after e)odus

from E"yptfrom E"ypt0olemic a"ainst the myths#0olemic a"ainst the myths#

reli"ion# "ods of pa"anismreli"ion# "ods of pa"anism

Genesis one contains 1doctrine2 so rich in meanin" that 1it

cannot +e easily oer3interpreted theolo"ically.2 45on 'ad6


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1Moses- concerns &ere e)clusiely

reli"ious. is intent &as to proclaim

*no&led"e of the true God as hemanifested himself in his creatie &or*s#

to proclaim a ri"ht understandin" of

human*ind# the &orld# and history that

*no&led"e of the true God entails33and to

proclaim the truth concernin" these matters

in the face of the false reli"ious notions

dominant throu"hout the &orld of his day.2

37ohn %te*


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!iterary %tructure of Genesis ,

%ta"e One: Gen. ,:,38

1In the +e"innin" God created theheaens and the earth.2

1The earth &as dar*# formless# empty.2


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5ery Good- Cosmos

%ta"e T&o: Gen. ,.938.9 ar*ness +anished +y creation of li"ht 4day ,6ar*ness +anished +y creation of li"ht 4day ,6

;ormlessness remoed +y creation of s*y# dry land;ormlessness remoed +y creation of s*y# dry land

and seas 4days 8396and seas 4days 8396

Emptiness remedied +y creation of creatures toEmptiness remedied +y creation of creatures to

d&ell in four areas- 4days


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God-s Creatin" Word


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Creatin" &ords of God

$y the &ord of the !O' &ere the heaens$y the &ord of the !O' &ere the heaensmade# their starry host +y the +reath of hismade# their starry host +y the +reath of his

mouth.- 40s. 99.=6mouth.- 40s. 99.=6;or he spo*e# and it came to +e> he;or he spo*e# and it came to +e> he

commanded# and it stood firm.- 40s. 99.?6commanded# and it stood firm.- 40s. 99.?6

$y faith &e understand that the unierse &as$y faith &e understand that the unierse &asformed at God-s command# so that &hat isformed at God-s command# so that &hat isseen &as not made out of &hat &as isi+le.-seen &as not made out of &hat &as isi+le.-4e+. ,,.964e+. ,,.96


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Word of God

Ori"inatin" &ord: Word that creates &iseOri"inatin" &ord: Word that creates &ise

and "ood order of creationand "ood order of creation

Continuin" &ord: %ame &ord continues toContinuin" &ord: %ame &ord continues to

+rin" order 48 0eter 9.@> 0s. ,


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God-s Upholdin" Word

God has called the unierse into +ein" out ofGod has called the unierse into +ein" out ofnothin"# and hence at eery moment it han"s-nothin"# and hence at eery moment it han"s-suspended# as it &ere# oer the a+yss of non3suspended# as it &ere# oer the a+yss of non3

e)istence. If God &ere to &ithdra& his upholdin"e)istence. If God &ere to &ithdra& his upholdin"Word# then all +ein" . . . &ould instantly tum+leWord# then all +ein" . . . &ould instantly tum+le

+ac* into nothin" and cease to e)ist. The+ac* into nothin" and cease to e)ist. Thecontinuation of the unierse from one moment tocontinuation of the unierse from one moment to

the ne)t is therefore as "reat a miracle and as fullythe ne)t is therefore as "reat a miracle and as fullythe &or* of God as is its comin" into +ein" at thethe &or* of God as is its comin" into +ein" at the

+e"innin".+e"innin".

3 $ruce Milne3 $ruce Milne


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T&o %toreys of Thomas ABuinas 4,883,8@


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;rom dualism to secularism

11. . . in connection &ith the history of his. . . in connection &ith the history of hisinfluence the fact cannot +e oerloo*ed thatinfluence the fact cannot +e oerloo*ed that

the Christian mediaeal synthesis presentedthe Christian mediaeal synthesis presented+y Thomas is one of e)treme tension# and in+y Thomas is one of e)treme tension# and inthe dynamic of historical deelopment hadthe dynamic of historical deelopment hadeffects &hich &ere to proe self3destructie:effects &hich &ere to proe self3destructie:

there &as to +e an unprecedented and all3there &as to +e an unprecedented and all3em+racin"em+racin" movement of secularization andmovement of secularization andemancipationemancipationat the lo&er leel.-2at the lo&er leel.-24F4Fn"6n"6


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%ecularism in succeedin" centuries

While scholastic theolo"ians "ranted aWhile scholastic theolo"ians "ranted alimited de"ree of autonomy to the realm oflimited de"ree of autonomy to the realm of

our natural life 4and natural reason6# theour natural life 4and natural reason6# the'enaissance humanists so "reatly e)panded'enaissance humanists so "reatly e)pandedthe autonomy of nature that there &as nothe autonomy of nature that there &as nolon"er any need for the realm of "race. Iflon"er any need for the realm of "race. If

God and Christianity &ere already +asicallyGod and Christianity &ere already +asicallyirreleant to most of life# &hy not ma*eirreleant to most of life# &hy not ma*etheir irreleance completeH 4Walsh andtheir irreleance completeH 4Walsh and

Middleton6Middleton6


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T&o %toreys of Thomas ABuinas

%piritual realm%piritual realm G'ACEG'ACE %upernatural%upernatural

%oul%oul ChurchChurch Christian lifeChristian life;aith;aith 'eelation'eelation Theolo"yTheolo"y

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Material realmMaterial realm ATU'EATU'E aturalatural

$ody$ody %ociety%ociety Cultural lifeCultural life

Empirical reasonEmpirical reason atural la&atural la& %cience%cience


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istorical results

Creation separated from presence of GodCreation separated from presence of God

atural la&s +uilt into creationatural la&s +uilt into creation

Can +e discerned +y autonomous reasonCan +e discerned +y autonomous reason

Controlled to harness la&s for social usesControlled to harness la&s for social uses

Technolo"y and rational or"anisation ofTechnolo"y and rational or"anisation ofsocietysociety


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Creation accordin" to %cripture


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%ecular &orld deoid of God-s

presence


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eistic &orld deoid of God-s

presence


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Christian education . . .

. . . resistin" secularism that teaches a+out. . . resistin" secularism that teaches a+out

God-s &orld as if his presence did notGod-s &orld as if his presence did notmatter.matter.


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God-s presence permeates the &orld

11In im &e lie and moe and hae our +ein".2In im &e lie and moe and hae our +ein".240aul# Acts ,@.8640aul# Acts ,@.86

God 1has so implicated imself &ith theGod 1has so implicated imself &ith thecreationJ# and ta*en it into is ery +osom# +y iscreationJ# and ta*en it into is ery +osom# +y is

presence in it# is proidence oer it# ispresence in it# is proidence oer it# is

impressions upon it# and is influences throu"h it#impressions upon it# and is influences throu"h it#that &e cannot truly or fully contemplate itthat &e cannot truly or fully contemplate it&ithout in some aspects contemplatin" im.2&ithout in some aspects contemplatin" im.24Cardinal e&man64Cardinal e&man6


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God-s immanence in creation

11There is not an atom of the unierse inThere is not an atom of the unierse in

&hich you cannot see some +rilliant spar*s&hich you cannot see some +rilliant spar*s

at least of his "lory.2at least of his "lory.2God is immanent in allGod is immanent in allcreation. The pure of heart see Godcreation. The pure of heart see God

eery&here. Eerythin" is full of God.eery&here. Eerythin" is full of God. 1I1I

confess that the e)pression# ature is God-confess that the e)pression# ature is God-may +e used in a pious sense +y a piousmay +e used in a pious sense +y a pious

mind(2mind(2

4erman $ainc*# Buotin" 7ohn Calin64erman $ainc*# Buotin" 7ohn Calin6


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Char"ed &ith the "randeur of God

The &orld is char"ed &ith the "randeur ofThe &orld is char"ed &ith the "randeur of

God.God.

It &ill flame out# li*e shinin" from shoo* foil>It &ill flame out# li*e shinin" from shoo* foil>

It "athers to a "reatness# li*e the ooKe of oil.It "athers to a "reatness# li*e the ooKe of oil.

CrushedCrushed. . .. . .

4Gerard Manley op*ins64Gerard Manley op*ins6


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God-s presence and *no&led"e

e is One &ho is soerei"n oer# operatie amidst#e is One &ho is soerei"n oer# operatie amidst#independent of# the appointments &hich e hasindependent of# the appointments &hich e hasmade> One in &hose hands are all thin"s# &ho hasmade> One in &hose hands are all thin"s# &ho hasa purpose in eery eent# and a standard for eerya purpose in eery eent# and a standard for eerydeed# and thus has relations of is o&n to&ardsdeed# and thus has relations of is o&n to&ardsthe su+/ect3matter of each particular science &hichthe su+/ect3matter of each particular science &hichthe +oo* of *no&led"e unfolds> &ho has &ith anthe +oo* of *no&led"e unfolds> &ho has &ith anadora+le# neer3ceasin" ener"y implicated imselfadora+le# neer3ceasin" ener"y implicated imself

in all the history of creation# the constitution ofin all the history of creation# the constitution ofnature# the course of the &orld# the ori"in ofnature# the course of the &orld# the ori"in ofsociety# the fortunes of the nations# the action ofsociety# the fortunes of the nations# the action ofthe human mind . . .the human mind . . .

3 Cardinal e&man3 Cardinal e&man


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!ife coram Deo

$efore the face of God- or in the presence$efore the face of God- or in the presence

of God-of God-

!atin phrase# L) in 5ul"ate!atin phrase# L) in 5ul"ate

Oriental court &here serants lie in Fin"-sOriental court &here serants lie in Fin"-s

presence# alert# ready to respond to hispresence# alert# ready to respond to his

+iddin"+iddin"


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. . . resistin" naturalism that teaches a+out. . . resistin" naturalism that teaches a+out

non3human creation as if God-s &ord andnon3human creation as if God-s &ord andactiity does not matter.actiity does not matter.


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God-s actiity in upholdin" in the

non3human creation

0salm ,


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God-s 'ulin" Word

The $i+le sho&s us a personalistic &orld# notThe $i+le sho&s us a personalistic &orld# notimpersonal la&. What &e call scientific la& isimpersonal la&. What &e call scientific la& is

an appro)imate human description of /ust ho&an appro)imate human description of /ust ho&faithfully and consistently God acts in rulin" thefaithfully and consistently God acts in rulin" the&orld +y spea*in". There is not mathematical#&orld +y spea*in". There is not mathematical#

physical# or theoretical cosmic machineryphysical# or theoretical cosmic machinery

+ehind &hat &e see and *no holdin"+ehind &hat &e see and *no holdin"eerythin" in place. 'ather God rules and ruleseerythin" in place. 'ather God rules and rulesconsistentlyconsistently

3 5ern 0oythress3 5ern 0oythress


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Three uses of &ord la&-

Word God spea*s to "ie creation orderWord God spea*s to "ie creation order

!a&ful re"ularity &e e)perience in creation!a&ful re"ularity &e e)perience in creation

Attempt at scientific# analytical formulationAttempt at scientific# analytical formulation

of these re"ularitiesof these re"ularities

E. . ;ac*erellE. . ;ac*erell


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. . . resistin" relatiism that sees human life. . . resistin" relatiism that sees human life

as free- from God-s orderin" &ord.as free- from God-s orderin" &ord.

. . . teachin" for &isdom that finds true. . . teachin" for &isdom that finds true

freedom +y discernin" God-s order forfreedom +y discernin" God-s order for

human life.human life.


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What is &isdomH

. . . the practical *no&led"e of. . . the practical *no&led"e of

the la&s of life and of the &orldthe la&s of life and of the &orld

+ased on e)perience.-+ased on e)perience.-

3 5on 'ad3 5on 'ad


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iine and human &isdom

Wisdom isJ &rou"ht into the constitution of theWisdom isJ &rou"ht into the constitution of the

unierse- so that human &isdom is ethicalunierse- so that human &isdom is ethical

conformity to God-s creation- 4;lemin"6.conformity to God-s creation- 4;lemin"6. Fosmos: the &orld held a diine order- andFosmos: the &orld held a diine order- and

therefore &isdom &as fittin" oneself into- thistherefore &isdom &as fittin" oneself into- this

diine order. 4Gladi"o&6.diine order. 4Gladi"o&6.

God-s &isdom 4order6> human &isdomGod-s &isdom 4order6> human &isdom

4conformity to that order64conformity to that order6


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God-s Word as !a&

. . . the Ten Commandments are a +rief. . . the Ten Commandments are a +riefsummary of the Christian ethic and ansummary of the Christian ethic and anunsurpassed rule for our life. There are alsounsurpassed rule for our life. There are alsomany other la&s to &hich &e are +ound. Godmany other la&s to &hich &e are +ound. Godalso laid do&n la&s for our thin*in"# for ouralso laid do&n la&s for our thin*in"# for ourappreciation of the +eautiful# for our socialappreciation of the +eautiful# for our sociallife# for heaen and earth# for sun and moonlife# for heaen and earth# for sun and moon

and stars# for day and ni"ht# for summer andand stars# for day and ni"ht# for summer and&inter# for seed time and harest.&inter# for seed time and harest.

3 erman $ainc*3 erman $ainc*


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%cope of God-s Ordinances

. . . All created life necessarily +ears in itself. . . All created life necessarily +ears in itselfa la& for its e)istence# instituted +y Goda la& for its e)istence# instituted +y Godhimself. . . . ConseBuently there arehimself. . . . ConseBuently there areordinances of God for our +odies# for theordinances of God for our +odies# for the

+lood that courses throu"h our arteries and+lood that courses throu"h our arteries andeins# and for our lun"s as the or"ans ofeins# and for our lun"s as the or"ans ofrespiration. And een so are there ordinancesrespiration. And een so are there ordinancesof God in lo"ic# to re"ulate our thou"hts>of God in lo"ic# to re"ulate our thou"hts>ordinances of God for our ima"ination# in theordinances of God for our ima"ination# in thedomain of aesthetics> and so also# strictdomain of aesthetics> and so also# strictordinances of God &hole of human life in theordinances of God &hole of human life in thedomain of morals.domain of morals.

A+raham FuyperA+raham Fuyper


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iersity and la&fulness

PCredalN;aith

PEthical

P0oliticalN7udicial

PAesthetic

PEconomic

P%ocial

P!in"ual

P.istoricalN;ormatie

PAnalyticalN'ational

P%ensitieNEmotional

P$ioticN!ife

'eli"ious $eliefsP:irectin" po&er

PChrist or idol


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iersity and la&

The merit of the much3disputedThe merit of the much3disputedPhilosophy ofPhilosophy ofthe Cosmonomic Ideathe Cosmonomic Ideaof the philosophersof the philosophersooye&eerd and 5ollenhoen 4;ree Uniersity6ooye&eerd and 5ollenhoen 4;ree Uniersity6is that# from the perspectie of the idea ofis that# from the perspectie of the idea ofcreation# it puts such a stron" emphasis on thecreation# it puts such a stron" emphasis on theariety and plurality of the arious leels ofariety and plurality of the arious leels of

e)istence# and points out the confusion thate)istence# and points out the confusion thatresults from the failure to discern the la&sresults from the failure to discern the la&s&hich hold for those different leels.&hich hold for those different leels.

endri*us $er*hofendri*us $er*hof


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Word of God and education

The Uniersity must +e +ound to theThe Uniersity must +e +ound to the wordwordof God# in eeryof God# in eery&ay in &hich God ma*es *no&n to us his &ord: in nature#&ay in &hich God ma*es *no&n to us his &ord: in nature#in history# in our o&n heart# and in his %criptural reelation.in history# in our o&n heart# and in his %criptural reelation.o not for"et that the Uniersity does not only hae ao not for"et that the Uniersity does not only hae a

Theolo"ical faculty# +ut also inesti"ates nature# history# theTheolo"ical faculty# +ut also inesti"ates nature# history# the/uridicial sphere and so much more. It is therefore not/uridicial sphere and so much more. It is therefore notenou"h to say that it is +ound to %cripture. Whereer andenou"h to say that it is +ound to %cripture. Whereer andho&eer God spea*s# the Uniersity must al&ays "ie earho&eer God spea*s# the Uniersity must al&ays "ie earand follo&. Materially# therefore# there is no difference ofand follo&. Materially# therefore# there is no difference of

opinion> the Uniersity must +e +ound to God and to Godopinion> the Uniersity must +e +ound to God and to Godalone# &heneer and &hereer God ma*es manifest hisalone# &heneer and &hereer God ma*es manifest hisWisdom# his Will# and his Ordinance# or renders themWisdom# his Will# and his Ordinance# or renders them*no&a+le throu"h inesti"ation and research.*no&a+le throu"h inesti"ation and research.

3 A+raham Fuyper3 A+raham Fuyper


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!ife as reli"ion

Eerythin" has +een created &as# in itsEerythin" has +een created &as# in its

creation# furnished +y God &ith ancreation# furnished +y God &ith an

unchan"ea+le la& of its e)istence. Andunchan"ea+le la& of its e)istence. And+ecause God has fully ordained such la&s and+ecause God has fully ordained such la&s and

ordinances for all of life# therefore theordinances for all of life# therefore the

Calinist demands that all life +e consecratedCalinist demands that all life +e consecrated

to is serice# in strict o+edience.to is serice# in strict o+edience.

3A+raham Fuyper3A+raham Fuyper


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istorical unfoldin" and cultural

em+odimento& the peculiarity of all reelation is# thato& the peculiarity of all reelation is# that&hile it posits principles and lays do&n&hile it posits principles and lays do&n

foundations# it char"es men &ith the applicationfoundations# it char"es men &ith the applicationof these principles and the +uildin" upon theseof these principles and the +uildin" upon thesefoundations. Creation &as the first reelation. . .foundations. Creation &as the first reelation. . .thou"ht and speech life and history# science andthou"ht and speech life and history# science and

art# hae all had their commencement inart# hae all had their commencement inprinciples &hich are laid do&n +y God-s creatieprinciples &hich are laid do&n +y God-s creatiepo&er.po&er.

3 erman $ainc*3 erman $ainc*

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Education and Creation Order